| Field |
| Watching Television? |
| Went Obsolete |
| 1980s? |
| Made Obsolete By |
| Cable and other signal providers |
| Knowledge Assumed |
| Broadcast signal is still available |
| When useful |
| When primary signal provider is down |
Before cable and satelite people received their television signals over the air. Some people put large antennas on their roof, but for many the rabbit ear antenna sitting on top of their television was their only antenna. It usually consisted of two collapsible antennas at a minimum. They could either be attached directly to the tv, or separate on their own base. Sometimes they had an additional loop antenna for picking up UHF signals as well.
-
Extend the antennas. Start with them oriented upright and with about a 30 degree spread between them. Each antenna should be about 15 degrees from vertical and they should start with their spread parallel to the face of the television.
-
Tune the TV to the channel you want to watch.
-
move the antennas through the basic combinations pausing to assess the reception that each provides.
-
First try one up and the other as close to parallel to the floor as you can get it. Raise the lower one slightly.
-
Return the antennas to an upright, but separated state and rotate the antennas or their base clockwise and counter clockwise by up to 45 degrees.
-
Go into the kitchen and get tinfoil and wrap it onto the end of one or both of the antennas for that truly desperate for a signal look.
-
Enjoy
 |
This entry is a seed, a starting point for writing a full entry. You can help Obsolete Skills Wiki by expanding it! Just click the "Edit" button. |
 |
This article is in need of a Photo. To add an image to this page, click "Edit" then click the "Files" button. |
Comments:
Note: You must be logged in to add comments
2008-02-26 04:33:41 No way man. I adjust the rabit ears quite often. And save $50 a month doing it. —75.62.181.194
2011-10-26 18:35:25 This skill is no longer obsolete: the emergence of Over The Air Digital transmission, television viewers are returning to rabbit ear antennae. The reception may not be as finicky as it was with analog OTA broadcasts, but the rabbit ears do occasionally require adjustment as described in the above article. —DominiqueRousset
